Washington has issued a travel alert for Americans who live in Toronto or plan to visit the city during the G20 summit.
“Previous G20 summits have drawn large numbers of protesters and activists, and a number of groups have announced plans to demonstrate throughout downtown Toronto,” the U.S. State Department warned in its alert. “Even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can become violent and unpredictable. You should avoid them if at all possible.”
The alert also advises U.S. citizens to forego travelling in or through downtown Toronto during the summit, anticipating “significant traffic disruption.”
The leaders of the world’s G20 countries will descend on Toronto for the June 26-27 summit and security is tight.
Protests and rallies are expected to begin the week leading up to the summit.
On June 26, thousands are expected to turn out to the People First! march, but organizers have vowed that the event will be a peaceful, family affair. However, protest organizers have confirmed that numerous activists and labour union members plan to splinter from the larger demonstration and continue a “militant” march to the security perimeter.
Washington says the travel alert expires June 28.
Canada is now on a rather exclusive list of travel alerts, which only includes six countries and regions. Among them is Jamaica, where the capital city has become the battlefield between government forces and gangs, who are protecting a fugitive drug lord from being extradited on U.S. drug- and arms-trafficking charges.
Also on the list is South Africa during the World Cup, where the State Department warns U.S. citizens could be exposed to terrorism, crime and public health risks.
“Isn’t it ironic that the World Cup and the G20, two international gatherings by definition, have travel alerts,” said Andrew Weir, vice-president communications for Tourism Toronto. “Two of the biggest world gatherings going on this month, there are travel advisories.”
The travel alert will likely have little to no impact on people venturing to the city, most of who are travelling here specifically for the summit.
So far, about 114,000 hotel rooms have been booked during the summit, Weir said.
“That’s probably a conservative number,” he said.
Alerts are based on short-term conditions that could be dangerous to U.S. citizens, such natural disasters, election-related violence or high-profile events expected to draw massive crowds.
The advisory also hints of delays at the border crossings, adding that the Canadian government will “likely increase passport and security checks at its land borders.”
In 2003, the World Health Organization and other health authorities issued travel advisories after several cases of SARS were diagnosed in the city.
Less authoritatively, the San Francisco Chronicle published a warning to Toronto-bound Americans about garbage piling up during the municipal strike in 2009.
But who needs U.S. tourists when you’re the number one destination for Canadian travelers? According to Hotwire.com, the Big Smoke is the most popular summer spot in the country, wi
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